...Humanities 332: American Humanities Fall 2015 Professor Kim Codella PhD. Office Phone 916-691-7633 Office SOC #128 Office Hours MW 4:30PM-5:30PM TTH 4-5:30PM, online 11-12 pm Friday. codellk@crc.losrios.edu Required Text. The House made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday. This book is available in the bookstore for you and there is also a copy in the library for your use. In addition there will be weekly online readings in D2L. You must do the required reading to pass the class. Students must attend lectures and take notes. Participation, i.e., your attention is required. Course description: This course examines the arts and ideas taken from the American experience in the 20th century and today. Material covered includes literature, art, music, philosophy and history of the twentieth century. The course draws upon the arts of African American, Native American, Asian American, Anglo and Latino cultures as avenues for understanding issues of ethnicity, class and gender as they intersect with mainstream American values. Course presentation: Lecture, discussion, audio-visual materials and readings from the text, online, and material to be supplied by the instructor. In addition an extra-credit will be offered. Attendance: Required, a student missing more than 5.4 class hours may be dropped from the course (this is four class sessions). Because of the recent budget situation instructors are encouraged to drop students who are not attending class. Basic Rules: ...
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...Culture is a very integral part of making people who they are. The culture one exists in effects and can be affected by their beliefs, social norms, race, religion, and social group. My friend can't I was born in South Korea, but moved to the United States when he was an infant. He, therefore has lived in the United States for as long as he can remember. Growing up in America with Korean parents has created a co-culture within my friends family. I am going to compare Hyun Tae’s Korean-American culture with my own African-American (actually from Africa) co-culture. As I interviewed can take, I learned that the American culture that he most assimilates with, contrast a great deal with the Korean culture of his parents. The first contrast in hyuntae...
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...Gap in Health Disparities of African Americans Rosie Vasser Grand Canyon University Closing the Gap in Health Disparities of African Americans Historically speaking African Americans have had harder access to healthcare due to a number of socioeconomic reasons. Many are unable to even get to a facility. When thinking about poverty in America one must associate African Americans with poorer health, less access to medical care and higher risk factors than others. Stressors alone within this group places them at higher risk for hypertension, smoking, diabetes, etc. Lower income limits the availability to healthier food and quality healthcare. AA persistent struggle to achieve the American dreams translates to their persistent struggles with health. The dominate society generational connection to wealth, affords them the ability to access the best in healthcare. AA has very limited access to quality healthcare. According to Eileen M. Crimmins, Mark D. Hayward, and Teresa E. Seeman (2004), “People who are poorer and who have less education are more likely to suffer from diseases, to experience loss of functioning, to be cognitively and physically impaired, and to experience higher mortality rates” (2004), This essay will compare and contrast the health status of the African American minority group and compare to the national average. We will discuss the current health status of this minority group, how health promotion is defined by African Americans, and what health disparities...
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...African American Christianity Carol C. Ballon Dr. Tom McCloskey Religion in America April 7, 2015 African American Christianity African-American Christianity is a Christian church that minister to primarily African-Americans. Throughout this paper I will share my experience and how I see it through my eyes. I will compare and contrast African-American Christianity verse Christianity. I also will give reason to why we need African-American churches. African-American Christianity started during slavery. This was an outlet for slaves, it was hope, and it was the only faith they had to hold onto. I suspect, that slave owners look at this as a threat. African-Americans gathered together for any cause was frowned upon. This could mean power and a means of escaping. They didn’t even want African-Americans to read, let alone carry around a bible. So from the beginning African-American Christianity was not accepted by slave owners. Throughout the many decades of slavery, religion among African-Americans was a fear for slave owners. For slave owners, African-American religious meetings symbolized the ultimate threat to slavery. Once established African-Americans relied heavily on their belief system. Religion offered an outlet for African-Americans, helped strengthen their belief in God and it was a safe haven. Keep in mind, slave owners was not always willing to accept the involvement of slaves in Christianity. As of today numerous African-American churches exist and are...
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...behind we can also see the impact they have had on many diverse cultures and societies today. Cultural Syncretism and its Impact Introduction Cultural syncretism occurs when two opposite cultures mix and blend their cultural beliefs, whether they be political or religious, to produce or to start a new culture or religion. Historically, syncretism has been seen as an attempt to reconcile disparities between various cultures. Africa and the Americas both had help with other factors like weapons, religion, and technological advancements. When it came to cultural beliefs, China and India’s values were very different. They would operate from outside of the traditional beliefs, which made them much more resistant to syncretism. Compare and contrast the legacies of cultural syncretism in Africa and the Americas with the resistance to cultural change Westerners encountered in China and India. When different aspects of cultural philosophies or religions blend together and disparities are compromised, cultural syncretism occurs. According to the 1830 American census 2.3 million people were of African descent and there was only 12.8 million in the country (Joyner, 2003). Also of that 12.8 million 2.44% were free Africans, 15.56% were enslaved Africans and 82% were free white people (Joyner, 2003). Within the United States, the large number of Africans along with their culture greatly contributed to the culture and history of...
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...Identify key elements of your own culture and compare your unique cultural contexts with those of the critics. In other words, how are your cultural norms alike or different than the critics that you chose in your research? Because I was born in 2000’s the strive towards openness and acceptance and equality is my history and is my culture so I believe that in that sense my cultural norms are similar but in another sense they are very different because I didn’t come from a time where inequality was acceptable so to come from that mindset and that surrounding you to now switching they have a harder time of choosing what is right and what is wrong which makes their critiques unclear. b. In what ways do you believe that the critics' cultural norms influenced their critiques or analysis? I believe that the critics cultural norms influenced their critiques because they are coming from a time where everything The Adventures of Huckleberry...
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...reside in a Chicago Southside apartment along with Walter’s wife Ruth and son Travis. Living in a two-bedroom apartment which they share a bathroom with their neighbor is one of many obstacles the Younger family encounters. Their home is reaching capacity and they learn Ruth is pregnant. This one of many reasons the Younger family desires to move into a home in Clybourne Park. This writing will address some of the challenges the Younger family endured as a poor colored family living in Chicago and ways to address their problems. Walter Lee is the main character who battles with alcoholism, depression, discrimination, and the loss of his father. This writing will also concentrate on the Younger’s culture, beliefs, values, and religion. Cultural Issues and Problems Culture is a set of shared values, goals, practices, behaviors, and beliefs shared by a particular social, ethnic, or age groups. Lena Younger has raised her family to believe and have faith in GOD, love, and provide for family, value education, and work hard. Although she valued these things she still tried to instill values in her children. In her presence she expected them to behave a certain way because both, Mr. and Mrs. Younger, made sure to set a good example for their children. Even though she had good intentions for her family society responded with bias treatment. Colored folks had limited access to employment, education, and housing. Employment and Education Discrimination against colored...
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...Afrocentric perspective or a Eurocentric perspective. Give two examples of the way Africa is portrayed that support a Eurocentric perspective. A Eurocentric perspective of Africa is represented in many textbooks, media, and teachings, by not making clear that Eygpt is located in Africa is not made clear. It is typically referred to as being in the Middle East. It is even occasionally taught as a part of Western Civilizations, although Egypt is not located in the West. Another example is how the Europeans viewed Africa as not having a history before the Europeans arrived. It is similar to how America likes to believe that Columbus discovered America, when in reality the Native Americans were living in America long before Columbus came around. Turning to an Afrocentric perspective, name the African scholar honored for exerting the greatest influence on Black thought in the 20th century at...
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...Crystal Wooten American Intercontinental University – Online March 3, 2013 Abstract In gaining an understanding of how early civilizations lived, we can see what impact they have had as they migrated to the New World. By examining what they left behind we can also see the impact they have had on many diverse cultures and societies today. Cultural Syncretism and its Impact Introduction Cultural syncretism occurs when two opposite cultures mix and blend their cultural beliefs, whether they be political or religious, to produce or to start a new culture or religion. Historically, syncretism has been seen as an attempt to reconcile disparities between various cultures. Africa and the Americas both had help with other factors like weapons, religion, and technological advancements. When it came to cultural beliefs, China and India’s values were very different. They would operate from outside of the traditional beliefs, which made them much more resistant to syncretism. Compare and contrast the legacies of cultural syncretism in Africa and the Americas with the resistance to cultural change Westerners encountered in China and India. When different aspects of cultural philosophies or religions blend together and disparities are compromised, cultural syncretism occurs. According to the 1830 American census 2.3 million people were of African descent and there was only 12.8 million in the country (Joyner, 2003). Also of that 12.8 million 2.44% were free Africans, 15.56% were...
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...from either an Afrocentric perspective or a Eurocentric perspective. Give two examples of the way Africa is portrayed that support a Eurocentric perspective. 4) Turning to an Afrocentric perspective, name the African scholar honored for exerting the greatest influence on Black thought in the 20th century at the Black World Festival of Arts and Culture in Senegal, West Africa. Name the African American scholar honored for the same reason. 5) Name the Origin of Humankind theory that Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop said was so rigorously defended until science cast it aside. What reason did he cite for its rigorous defense? 6) From “Journey of Man,” name the reason humankind took so long to populate Europe. How many years did it take? 7) What delayed the American geneticist’s travel into Central Asia? Why was getting to that destination so important to him? 8) Name the word that the Navajo man took issue with the geneticist using when relating his stories of origin. What was the reason for his criticism? 9) Name the great African leader responsible for turning Ancient Mali into an empire. Who is known for his gold-laden pilgrimage from Africa to the holy city of Mecca? 10) Who started the Department of Negro History and African Studies at Straight University in the 1920’s? What is the current name of...
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...and Morally Different African Americans Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. are both household names of men who fought diligently for African American rights in the postmodernism 1960’s. The 1954 Supreme Court ruling favored that segregated educational structure left blacks at a disadvantage. This was the spark that triggered uprising in the following years. Malcolm X and King Jr’s emphasis on their beliefs is evident in the works and actions that they have done through their lives. Their philosophies do differ from one another, as we will see in “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” and with “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. Both men had different approaches and desires for the black community as well as different upbringings that influenced them. We will see how such differences are reflected throughout their work to get a better understanding on how they compare and contrast. Known as Malcolm Little, the Omaha-born future activist suffered an impoverished start in life due to his father’s early demise. Prior to his death, Malcolm’s father was a “follower of Marcus Garvey, who instilled racial pride among the masses of African Americans” (Lauter 3088). To make end’s meet, Malcolm became a drug dealer and thief while living in Harlem, which landed him time in jail. His experience in jail and childhood shaped him and encouraged him in to becoming the activists that he was known for. Malcolm “replaced his own last name with “X” which stands for the African name his ancestors lost...
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...The Influence of Heritage on Current Culture Evaluation of how family subscribes to these traditions and practices is offered in detail, while offering insight and/or reflection.It is essential for nurses to provide culturally sensitive care to each and every patient in order to establish repor and maintain a safe working relationship with each individual. To provide culturally sensitive care to a nurses patient’s he or she must first assess their own beliefs, values, and culture at large. The nurse can do this by using the Heritage Assessment Tool. This tool shows the nurse how important their heritage is to them and if they have adopted their ways of life from their family’s history and influence. This gives the nurse a starting point for his or her own competency because once the nurse knows their own beliefs they will know what to keep in mind as their own biases that may hinder or limit care of their patients. The Heritage Assessment tool can then be used with the nurses’ patients in assessing how much they follow their cultural heritage. When interviewing families from different cultures one can see the disparities between them and their perception of their health maintenance, health protection, and health restoration. Applying the Heritage Assessment in Evaluating the Needs of the Whole Person The Heritage Assessment is a useful tool in evaluating the needs of the patient and in being able to provide holistic patient care. The Heritage Assessment Tool assesses whether...
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...Rhetorical Analysis of the “Ballot or the Bullet” and “Somebody Blew Up America” The purpose of this essay to compare and contrast the rhetoric in Amira Baraka’s “Somebody Blew up America” and Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the Bullet in regards to ethos, pathos, and logos. Amiri Baraka, born Everett LeRoi Jones, was an African-American writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays, and music criticism. Baraka read his poem “Somebody Blew up America?” on the September 11th attacks and was heavily criticized for anti-Semitism and attacks on public figures. His poem is free verse and has no set structure but maintains its rhythmic elements for oral sharing. The poem was meant to be shared orally so that Baraka would be able to emphasize and share lines specifically for an audience. Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, was an African-American Muslim minister...
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...King’s movement was majorly successful, yet injustices still continue to exist in our nation. There are still oppressive situations that exist in our nation, and, examples from the past have taught us that actions must be taken in order to prevent these situations from arising again. Martin Luther King’s letter and actions for racial inequality and justice, although people may be from different races and cultures, is a paragon for many people in the current day, in order to create total equality among...
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...Introduction From its origin, HIV/AIDS has been defined as a sexually transmitted disease associated primarily with white homosexual men. In fact, African Americans are the racial/ethnic group that are mostly influenced by HIV/AIDs. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, by the end of 2008, an estimated 240,627 blacks with and AIDs diagnosis has died in the United States (CDC, 2012). Contrary to the evident statistics affecting the African American population as a whole, there remains a small amount of research studies, dedicated towards HIV/AIDs healthcare promotion and prevention strategies specifically designed for the African American women. However, there is a large proportion of African American women affected by HIV/AIDs. In 2009, black women accounts for 30% of the new estimations of HIV infections among blacks. The rate for HIV infections as compared to other populations is 15 times more than white women, and three times as high for Latina women (CDC, 2012). This is confirmed by social media, primarily directed at African American males. In regards to the African American women, personal beliefs, cultural practices, and social norms act as a backdrop in determining the risk behavior of acquiring HIV/AIDs. This study serves to address the need for prevention strategies among single African American women of 18-22 years of age in college from the middle socioeconomic class. The subjects for the study are voluntary and motivated to learn with...
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